A Divine Symphony

Imagine for a moment the most beautiful, most exquisite musical instrument. Let’s say a piano. A stunning piece, hand crafted to perfection like nothing you’ve ever seen before. It gleams and glistens like it has been carved from one huge, single diamond, throwing beams of light of amazing colours in every direction. It really is one of the most beautiful things you have ever seen.

You fear touching it because you are daunted by its' beauty but when you dare to press just one of the perfectly crafted keys the sound is like nothing you have ever heard before. You are amazed that the sound of one single note can be so harmonious, like the sound of angels singing. You have never played the piano and really don’t know how but the sound inspires you.

Then you discover that you, yes you, have been gifted this piano. You didn’t have to do anything for it, it was simply given to you just because. Nothing is expected in return for this most amazing of gifts except for one thing. You must learn to play it to the best of your abilities.

Still inspired by the first sound you heard you sit down and attempt to play. Just the one note for now, because that is divine enough, the sound is beautiful as it is so you just continue that way for a while longer, playing just the one happy single note. A blissful sound.

But you soon realise that you are not honouring your promise and you must try harder. So with a renewed confidence you attempt to play more notes. You really don’t know how to play but you try anyway. Maybe, like the child geniuses we hear of and by a pure stroke of luck, you manage to create a beautiful symphony? But this is extremely rare and it’s more likely that the sound isn’t quite what you’d like to hear. It certainly isn’t as beautiful as that original first note. So sometimes you just go back to playing that first note but you know you must try harder. So you keep trying yet still don’t really achieve what you set out to do.

You start to copy others around you, who are in this equally fortunate position. You try to make the same sounds as them, even though some of them are playing violins, some trombones, some drums etc. And it is impossible to make your beautiful piano sound like theirs. Some are playing pianos but they are also unsure how to play and the sound is not one you want to emulate, though it becomes the only one you know and then you just copy them anyway. But then you realise, if you really want to make the best sound, you must follow the masters. You listen to Beethoven and Mozart, Tchaikovsky and Handel, and you seek out a teacher that can play that music. You follow their guidance and advice. You listen and apply. And most of all you practice. You practice, practice, practice. Sometimes it feels like hard work. Sometimes you don’t want to play at all. But you know, if you want to achieve your goal and fulfill your promise, then you must.

Eventually, after lots of practice, you see progress. You hear beautiful sounds and you find you can play with ease. What had seemed so challenging before now comes naturally. Your fingers dance across the keys, hitting the right notes with precision and perfect timing. You are a master and can create the most divine symphony.

Now your practice becomes your life force. When you play you feel complete. The music is the symphony of your life. For this story is merely a metaphor and that piano is your mind. You have been gifted with the most amazing instrument. An instrument like no other. You are more than capable of playing it to the best of your abilities and creating that perfect symphony. With dedication, commitment, understanding and practice, you can. And you should. You are a divine gift to yourself, learn and practice to play the best of you.